Today in Cars: GT3 Track Toys, Long-Range Family EVs, Aussie Muscle’s Comeback, and a Monte-Carlo Mini
I scribbled this morning’s brief with a coffee gone cold and tire marbles still in my shoes from last weekend’s track day. It’s that kind of mix today: pure racer stuff, practical EV family-haulers, a noisy ute comeback for Australia, and a couple of collector-car curveballs. Settle in.
Track Toys for More People: Porsche’s 911 Challenge Arrives
Porsche has unveiled the 911 Challenge, an “entry-level” race car built around the 911 GT3’s powerplant. Multiple outlets lined up at the pit wall for this one, and the headline is the same: this is meant to widen the on-ramp to serious 911 racing without tossing you straight into the deep end of Cup-car costs and commitment.
- GT3-based hardware with the GT3’s engine at the core
- Designed to be simpler to run than a full-blown Cup car
- Expected pricing around $275,000
- Already earmarked for series like Sprint Challenge GB
Having coached a few novice drivers in various Porsche one-make paddocks, I can tell you the step from “track-day hero” to “race-weekend ready” isn’t just about bravery. It’s predictability, seat time, and a car that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you in consumables and setup voodoo. On paper, the 911 Challenge sounds like it trims that learning curve. And yes, I fully expect to see these filling grids and garages of folks who’ve outgrown slicks-and-suspension-setup on their GT3 street cars but don’t want the Cup circus (or budget).
Family EVs With Real-World Reach: Hyundai Santa Fe and BYD’s Big MPV
Hyundai has announced an extended-range EV version of the Santa Fe coming for 2027. No specs yet, but the direction is clear: three-row practicality plus enough battery to quit the “range-anxiety” small talk on school runs and long weekends. If it rides anything like the last Santa Fe I drove, expect a quiet cabin and a suspension tune that forgives chewed-up suburban shortcuts.
Meanwhile in Australia, BYD has locked in a people-mover aimed squarely at the Kia Carnival. Think airport runs, surfboards, and seven or eight humans without everyone’s knees in their chins. BYD’s been on a tear with sharp pricing and usable range—if they bring that formula to a big MPV, the family-hauler pecking order could get spicy in record time.
Performance EV Wildcard: Denza Z9 GT glares at Taycan
Denza (BYD’s premium arm) has revealed the Z9 GT in a hotter performance edition and isn’t shy about its target: the fiercest versions of Porsche’s Taycan. Expect a long-roof grand-tourer vibe, serious acceleration, and a moonshot interior. Whether it matches the Taycan’s steering magic is another question; I’ll reserve judgment until I can hustle one down a favorite back road. But ambition? Off the charts.
Australia Watch: Boxy EV Off-Roader Spied, TRX Rumbles Back, and a Mystery Mitsubishi
Chery’s iCaur V25—picture a blocky, electrified off-roader with throwback charm—has been spied testing in Australia. It looks unapologetically square, which I like, and if the chassis tuning lands right, it could be the affordable antidote to the lifestyle 4x4 trend. Bring a hose and a sense of humor.
At the other end of the subtlety spectrum, Ram has confirmed the 1500 TRX is coming back to Australia, now with an even more powerful supercharged V8. The previous truck already felt like a Baja dream with number plates; a stronger version is basically a rolling bad decision you’ll never regret. Pro tip from my last dusty run in one: bring earplugs for highway slogs, and budget for rear tires like you budget for coffee and petrol.
Mitsubishi has teased a mysterious model that might be our first real look at the next-gen ASX. The current ASX has hung around like your favorite hoodie—comforting but definitely faded. If Mitsubishi’s sharpened its hybrid game and modernized the cabin, the new one could be a dark horse daily driver.
What’s coming to Australia (at a glance)
| Vehicle | Segment | Powertrain headline | Status | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 1500 TRX (returning) | Full-size performance pickup | Supercharged V8, more grunt than before | Confirmed | Desert runners and throttle junkies |
| BYD Carnival rival | Three-row people-mover | Electrified options expected | Confirmed | Big families, rideshare, airport warriors |
| Chery iCaur V25 | Boxy off-roader | Electrified (hybrid or EV) | Spied testing | Urban adventurers who actually camp |
Policy & People: UK Hybrids Get Breathing Room, GM Australia Shuffles
The UK’s ZEV mandate review could grant hybrids more runway, a potential lifeline for local factories pivoting from ICE to EV. Translation: we might see a calmer, more phased transition on the production line, easing supplier headaches and keeping jobs steadier in the medium term. If you’ve ever toured a plant mid-changeover, you know that “steady” is the best word in the language.
Down under, General Motors’ Australia boss is exiting. Management reshuffles aren’t rare, but given GM’s niche-yet-loud presence in Australia—think remanufactured V8 trucks and burgeoning luxury EV ambitions—it’s a move worth watching. New captains sometimes plot different courses.
Road-Trip Reality Check: 1400 Miles in a BMW iX3
Autocar’s long EV holiday in a BMW iX3 is the kind of piece I send to skeptical friends. Takeaways match what I’ve experienced on cross-border EV trips:
- Plan around reliable charging hubs, not just “shortest route.”
- Arrive with 10–20% buffer; stress levels drop instantly.
- A good break beats a bad charger—factor cafés and rest stops into your rhythm.
- Roof boxes and high speeds hit range harder than you think; pack light and chill.
Heritage Corner: A Monte Carlo Mini and a 441ci SEMA Bruiser
Mini is celebrating its 1965 Monte Carlo Rally triumph with a special edition you can actually buy. No, it’s not the exact giant-killer from the Alps, but the spirit’s there. Picture cheeky graphics, heritage nods, and an excuse to tell your passengers about tiny cars embarrassing big ones on snow-packed hairpins.
On the muscle side, an ex-SEMA 1973 Chevy Camaro RS is headed to auction with 441 cubic inches of V8 thunder. That’s big-block presence without the polite handshake—more like a bear hug that smells faintly of race gas. If you like your classics loud and a little unhinged, this one’s your huckleberry.
Wrap-Up
From a more accessible GT3-based racer to long-range family EVs, plus Australia’s twin track of boxy off-roaders and supercharged utes, today’s theme is choice. As a driver, parent, or straight-up tire torturer, you’ve got interesting paths ahead. I’ll be first in line to sample that Porsche and last to leave when the TRX dust cloud settles.
FAQ
-
What is the Porsche 911 Challenge and how much is it?
It’s a GT3-based, entry-level Porsche race car aimed at simplifying the jump into one-make racing. Pricing is around $275,000. -
When is the extended-range Hyundai Santa Fe EV coming?
Hyundai has announced it for 2027, with more details to come closer to launch. -
Is the Ram 1500 TRX really coming back to Australia?
Yes, and it’s returning with an even more powerful supercharged V8. -
What is BYD’s Kia Carnival rival?
BYD has confirmed a large three-row people-mover for Australia, positioned directly against the Carnival and other big family vans. -
What’s the Chery iCaur V25?
A boxy, electrified off-roader recently spied testing in Australia—think retro shape with modern propulsion.
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